WRESTLING PERMIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 8

WRESTLING PERMIT.

REFUSED BY POLICE." AMERICAN OUT OF FAVOUR, "MORALS' OF THE PUBLIC. , ' 16 is obvious that the Police Department is determined to prevent pr O f e6 . sional wrestling,in Xew Zealand. f rom becoming the "wild and woolly" business it is in America and other parts of the world. When the Auckland Wrest ling Association applied on Tuesday W for permission to stage a match between Stan Pinto and Scotty McDou»ai th application was refused. ° ,' The reason for the refusal,to grant a permit for the match provisionally airanged was, it is understood, that the police were not satisfied with 'Pinto's display in his match against Jack Hi»gins. In the opinion of the police the Amercan'e conduct was not in the best interests of the sport and the morals of the public. It is understood that Inspector Hollis also intimated that under no consideration would a repetition of sueli conduct be tolerated. ■" The police have instructed the wrestling authorities that all applications for permits must be accompanied bv the names of the contestant. As a matter of fact, this practice has been observed by the secretaries for some time. The action of the police in refusing a permit is not new. When Billy Edwa'rcU was in New Zealand last season the Auckland Ex-Servicemen's Union matched him for a bout in Auckland but the application for a permit was refused because the "wildman" had in the opinion of the police, overstepped the mark in some of his matches. Later, however, Edwards was allowed to appear, and it k understood that Pinto will also be permitted to wrestle here at a later date. The general opinion is that presentday wrestling is made to appear much rougher than it actually is, and a'bfr section of the public is aware that much of the "fireworks" that they witness its really only showmanship. It is seldom that a contestant is seriously hurt, which fact rather contradicts the opinion that the wrestlers are all out to kill each other. There is no doubt that the Auckland wrestling public expect thrills,'arid are disappointed if they don't get them.